Sir Nicholas Bonsor
Credentials
- Sir Nicholas Bonsor was educated at Eton College and Keble College, Oxford.1Colin Brown. “No 10 stands by Clarke’s accuser,” Independent, September 25, 1996. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/X3Go4
Background
Sir Nicholas Bonsor was a former Conservative MP and the honorary director of development of the UK climate science denial group the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF).2“Sir Nicholas Bonsor,” UK Parliament. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/vR3Df 3“The Global Warming Policy Foundation: Total exemption full accounts made up to 30 September 2017,” Companies House, February 15, 2018. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Bonsor died on March 21, 2023.4“Death of Soulbury’s Sir Nicholas Bonsor, descendant of Lord Nelson, former MP and Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Bucks,” The Bucks Herald, April 5, 2023. Archived April 7, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/7e9dz
Bonsor also held a number of directorships on the boards of mining and energy companies, including London Mining, a company which developed iron ore mines for the steel industry before it went into administration in 2014.5“Sir Nicholas Bonsor,” Companies House. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/HMxCR 6Ashley Armstrong. “Ebola-hit London Mining collapses into administration,” Telegraph, October 16, 2014. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/UqXyO
The company was involved in a major controversy in Greenland where voters feared ministers were surrendering their country’s interests to multinational mining companies.7Terry Macalister. “Greenland government falls as voters send warning to mining companies,” Guardian, March 15, 2013. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/cH7W7
Bonsor was a director of a shale oil company, TomCo Energy, between 2010 and 2015. The company holds drilling leases in the Green River Shale Formation in the US state of Utah.8Philip Waller. “TomCo bounces back with shale oil scheme,” Daily Express, May 23, 2011. Archived December 20, 2018. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. 9Phil Allan. “Ex-minister quits shale developer,” Energy Voice, July 17, 2015. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/JXSS4 10“Company Profile,” TomCo Energy. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/Lys6h
A practising barrister, Bonsor was a Conservative MP for Nantwich and Upminster between 1979 and 1997, serving as a minister of state for foreign affairs for the final two years.11Colin Brown. “No 10 stands by Clarke’s accuser,” Independent, September 25, 1996. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/X3Go4 12“Sir Nicholas Bonsor,” UK Parliament. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/vR3Df
He also served as the chairman of the cross-party Commons Select Committee on Defence from 1992 to 1995.13Patricia Wynn Davies. “Heathrow: Politicians play down airport chaos: Ministers wary of handing IRA propaganda victory as travellers endure more disruption,” Independent, March 14, 1994. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/krXTX
Bonsor was a long-time euro-sceptic, having voted three times against the bill implementing the Maastricht treaty. The treaty created the three-pillar structure of the European Union which integrated the union and led to the creation of the euro.14Colin Brown. “No 10 stands by Clarke’s accuser,” Independent, September 25, 1996. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/X3Go4
He supported UKIP leader Nigel Farage in his unsuccessful campaign to unseat Commons Speaker John Bercow in his Buckingham constituency in 2010.15Elizabeth Grice. “General Election 2010: Nigel Farage and the battle for Buckingham,” Telegraph, May 6, 2010. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/NueWE
Bonsor inherited the title of baronet and was a Vice President of the Standing Council of the Baronetage, a social network which provides advice to those wishing to prove their succession to a baronetage, according to its website.16“Home,” Standing Council of the Baronetage. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/UVlO8
In a 1996 article in The Independent, his views on women and family were described as follows: “He believes women should stay at home and rear the children (he has five). His open detestation of ‘screeching and squawking’ feminists is not normally conducive to quick promotion at Westminster.”17Colin Brown. “No 10 stands by Clarke’s accuser,” Independent, September 25, 1996. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/X3Go4
Stance on Climate Change
Bonsor was the honorary director of development of the UK’s main climate sceptic think tank, the Global Warming Policy Foundation. The group was founded by former Chancellor Nigel Lawson with the purpose of combating what the foundation describes as “extremely damaging and harmful policies” designed to mitigate climate change. The foundation’s “Academic Advisory Council” has been called a “Who’s Who of current climate change sceptics.”18“Ed Miliband clashes with Lord Lawson on global warming,” BBC News, December 6, 2009. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/47R7w 19Caroline Davies and Suzanne Goldenberg. “The voices of climate change sceptics,” The Guardian, November 24, 2009. Archived August 17, 2015. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/lpkvm
Key Deeds
February, 2018
Bonsor was appointed new honorary director of development of GWPF, according to the foundation’s accounts. His precise role within GWPF has not been detailed.20“The Global Warming Policy Foundation: Total exemption full accounts made up to 30 September 2017,” Companies House, February 15, 2018. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Affiliations
- Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF) — Director of Development.21“The Global Warming Policy Foundation: Total exemption full accounts made up to 30 September 2017,” Companies House, February 15, 2018. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- Conservative Party — Former MP and minister of state for foreign affairs.22“Sir Nicholas Bonsor,” UK Parliament. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/vR3Df
- United Kingdom Independence Party — Supporter of Nigel Farage’s 2010 election campaign. [11]
- Egerton International Limited — Director.23“Sir Nicholas Bonsor,” Companies House. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/HMxCR
- Soulbury Enterprises Limited — Director.24“Sir Nicholas Bonsor,” Companies House. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/HMxCR
Social Media
Sir Nicholas Bonsor does not appear to be active on social media.
Publications
- Nicholas Bonsor. “Britain and Latin America: Economic Prospects,” University of London Institute of Latin American Studies, 1996.
Resources
Image Credit: Write Opinions
- 1Colin Brown. “No 10 stands by Clarke’s accuser,” Independent, September 25, 1996. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/X3Go4
- 2“Sir Nicholas Bonsor,” UK Parliament. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/vR3Df
- 3“The Global Warming Policy Foundation: Total exemption full accounts made up to 30 September 2017,” Companies House, February 15, 2018. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 4“Death of Soulbury’s Sir Nicholas Bonsor, descendant of Lord Nelson, former MP and Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Bucks,” The Bucks Herald, April 5, 2023. Archived April 7, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/7e9dz
- 5“Sir Nicholas Bonsor,” Companies House. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/HMxCR
- 6Ashley Armstrong. “Ebola-hit London Mining collapses into administration,” Telegraph, October 16, 2014. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/UqXyO
- 7Terry Macalister. “Greenland government falls as voters send warning to mining companies,” Guardian, March 15, 2013. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/cH7W7
- 8Philip Waller. “TomCo bounces back with shale oil scheme,” Daily Express, May 23, 2011. Archived December 20, 2018. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 9Phil Allan. “Ex-minister quits shale developer,” Energy Voice, July 17, 2015. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/JXSS4
- 10
- 11Colin Brown. “No 10 stands by Clarke’s accuser,” Independent, September 25, 1996. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/X3Go4
- 12“Sir Nicholas Bonsor,” UK Parliament. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/vR3Df
- 13Patricia Wynn Davies. “Heathrow: Politicians play down airport chaos: Ministers wary of handing IRA propaganda victory as travellers endure more disruption,” Independent, March 14, 1994. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/krXTX
- 14Colin Brown. “No 10 stands by Clarke’s accuser,” Independent, September 25, 1996. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/X3Go4
- 15Elizabeth Grice. “General Election 2010: Nigel Farage and the battle for Buckingham,” Telegraph, May 6, 2010. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/NueWE
- 16“Home,” Standing Council of the Baronetage. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/UVlO8
- 17Colin Brown. “No 10 stands by Clarke’s accuser,” Independent, September 25, 1996. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/X3Go4
- 18“Ed Miliband clashes with Lord Lawson on global warming,” BBC News, December 6, 2009. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/47R7w
- 19Caroline Davies and Suzanne Goldenberg. “The voices of climate change sceptics,” The Guardian, November 24, 2009. Archived August 17, 2015. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/lpkvm
- 20“The Global Warming Policy Foundation: Total exemption full accounts made up to 30 September 2017,” Companies House, February 15, 2018. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 21“The Global Warming Policy Foundation: Total exemption full accounts made up to 30 September 2017,” Companies House, February 15, 2018. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 22“Sir Nicholas Bonsor,” UK Parliament. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/vR3Df
- 23“Sir Nicholas Bonsor,” Companies House. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/HMxCR
- 24“Sir Nicholas Bonsor,” Companies House. Archived December 20, 2018. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/HMxCR